6 supplications
Duas for a Good Ending (Husn al-Khatimah)
Deeds are judged by their endings, the Prophet ﷺ said, so the righteous have always feared for their last moments. Yusuf, at the height of his power, asked to die as a Muslim, and the Prophet ﷺ taught duas for a good life and a good death.
For a good ending
فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ
Fatiras-samawati wal-ard, anta waliyyi fid-dunya wal-akhirah, tawaffani musliman wa alhiqni bis-salihin.
Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Let me die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 12:101
To die with the righteous
رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ
Rabbana faghfir lana dhunubana wa kaffir ‘anna sayyi’atina wa tawaffana ma‘al-abrar.
Our Lord, forgive us our sins, remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 3:193
The last du‘a of the Prophet ﷺ
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالرَّفِيقِ الْأَعْلَى
Allahummaghfir li warhamni wa alhiqni bir-rafiqil-a‘la.
O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me and join me with the highest companionship.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
When life becomes hard
اللَّهُمَّ أَحْيِنِي مَا كَانَتِ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي، وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا كَانَتِ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي
Allahumma ahyini ma kanatil-hayatu khayran li, wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khayran li.
O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and take my soul when death is better for me. Taught instead of wishing for death.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
The words of the Prophet ﷺ at death
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، إِنَّ لِلْمَوْتِ سَكَرَاتٍ
La ilaha illallah, inna lil-mawti sakarat.
There is no god but Allah; indeed death has its agonies.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
For religion, this world and the next
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي، وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ، وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ
Allahumma aslih li dinil-ladhi huwa ‘ismatu amri, wa aslih li dunyayal-lati fiha ma‘ashi, wa aslih li akhiratil-lati fiha ma‘adi, waj‘alil-hayata ziyadatan li fi kulli khayr, waj‘alil-mawta rahatan li min kulli sharr.
O Allah, set right my religion, which is the safeguard of my affairs; set right my world, in which is my living; set right my Hereafter, to which is my return; make life an increase for me in every good, and make death a rest for me from every evil.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Deeds are by their endings
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Deeds are judged by their endings” (al-Bukhari), and “Whoever’s last words are La ilaha illallah will enter Paradise” (Abu Dawud). For this reason those present at a dying person gently remind him of the shahadah without pressing him (Muslim).
Yusuf’s du‘a “Tawaffani musliman wa alhiqni bis-salihin” (12:101) came after Allah had given him kingship and reunited his family. At the peak of blessing he asked for a good end, teaching that no state in this life is secure until the last breath.
The last moments of the Prophet ﷺ
‘A’ishah reported that during his final illness the Prophet ﷺ put his hand in water and wiped his face, saying: “La ilaha illallah, inna lil-mawti sakarat” (al-Bukhari). His last words were “Allahummaghfir li warhamni wa alhiqni bir-rafiqil-a‘la” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Even the best of creation sought forgiveness at the end.
Causes of a good ending
Scholars mention: sincerity, constancy in prayer, avoiding hidden sins, good opinion of Allah, frequent remembrance of death and the du‘a for steadfastness. The Prophet ﷺ forbade wishing for death because of hardship; whoever must say something should say “Allahumma ahyini ma kanatil-hayatu khayran li…” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Life is a chance to increase in good, and death in its time is a rest for the believer.
Practical tips
- Make the du‘a for a good ending part of your daily adhkar.
- Remember death often, as the Prophet ﷺ advised.
- Write your will and settle your debts.
- Avoid sins committed in private.
- Keep “La ilaha illallah” constantly on your tongue.
Duas for a Good Ending (Husn al-Khatimah): questions and answers
How can I ask for a good ending?
With “Rabbana ighfir lana dhunubana… wa tawaffana ma‘al-abrar” (3:193), Yusuf’s du‘a (12:101) and “Ya muqallibal-qulub thabbit qalbi ‘ala dinik” (at-Tirmidhi).
Is it allowed to wish for death?
No, not because of worldly hardship. The Prophet ﷺ taught the du‘a “Allahumma ahyini…” instead (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
What is said to a dying person?
He is gently reminded of “La ilaha illallah” (Muslim), and those present say only good, for the angels say “Amin” to what they say (Muslim).